Central Austria, August 2008

[Lvandelft]

Another day we headed again into the Upper Ennstal to visit the mountain
Stoderzinken near Gröbming where we could drive up to a big parking place.
Along the roadside in shady places we saw many Gentiana asclepiadea.
From the parkingplace we could easy walk to a place where was build a little chapel
on the rocks, the so-called Friedenskirche, built in1902.

Gentiana asclepiadea
Stoderzinken Ennstal     
Stoderzinken Friedenskirche 
Stoderzinken towards Dachstein                         

[Lvandelft]

On our way to the chapel there were some flowers, but early in spring it must be
wonderful upthere, because I saw masses of Helleborus niger.

Scabiosa columbaria with alpine bee [Apis mellifera mellifera]           
Rhaponticum  ... ?
Stoderzinken  Orchid       
Senecio abrotanifolius 
Gentianela campestris or austriaca  ??                     
Linaria alpina                             

[Lvandelft]

Some interesting plants were on or near big plain rocks:
Rocks                                   
Saxifraga on rocks                                       
Campanula cochleariifolia in rocks  (plant measuring not more than 2 cm.)
Campanula cochleariifolia
Potentilla caulescens 1                         
Potentilla caulescens 2                 
Potentilla caulescens 3                     
                                     
I never saw this Potentilla before and now hardly understand why it is not used more
in rockgardens, because it flowers when most flowers are over.

[Lvandelft]

Near the parking were built some nice houses. Must be important people which
are allowed to built a second house in the middle of beautyful nature.
The good thing  (..) for these people is that they don't need a gardener when away...

Stoderzinken frontgarden
Stoderzinken frontgarden 2                                 
Stoderzinken frontgarden 3                                     
                                             
 Driving down I suddenly noticed something red, which I believed to be:
                                   
Atropa bella-donna    Edit:   so probably Lonicera alpigena (L.)

I hope I am not wrong...

[Gerdk]

Luit,
wonderful sights, interesting Potentilla!
Your Atropa bella-donna is a Lonicera species, probably L. alpigena.

Gerd

[Lvandelft]

Luit,
wonderful sights, interesting Potentilla!
Your Atropa bella-donna is a Lonicera species, probably L. alpigena.
Gerd

Thank you Gerd!
I googled a little and it must be a Lonicera.
Both are plants, I have never seen, but these red berries made me think wrong!

[Katherine J]

Beautiful pics showing beautiful places. And I like that you took pics also of gardens. 

Gentianella campestris has 4 petals, so this is probably austriaca...

[Lvandelft]

Thank you Kathrine, I hope to remember that.


In the last two batches I show first some plants.
We drove over the Radstädter Tauernpass where I had to stop for
a Delphinium.
Then we visited the valley of Grossarl where I saw fields with Gentiana
asclepiadea. This time in full sun but always on the mountains North-side.
           
Delphinium elatum 1                   
Delphinium elatum 2             
Gentiana asclepiadea Grossarl 1         
Gentiana asclepiadea Grossarl 2           
Gentiana asclepiadea Grossarl 3       
Carlina acaulis     
Stoneman 

[Lvandelft]

One of our last trips was to the Kölnbrein Sperre in the beautiful Maltatal in Carinthia.
Amazing to see the masses of Parnassia.
On most of our trips we were accompanied by some relatives of my wife.
The last picture shows some of them.
               
Maltatal 1                     
Maltatal 2                     
Maltatal moss                     
Parnassia palustris
Parnassia palustris 1               
Saxifraga aizoides             
Maltatal 3                             
Maltatal 4   
Good Company                     

[Thomas Huber]

One of our last trips was to the Kölnbrein Sperre in the beautiful Maltatal in Carinthia.

Wonderful photos Luit! My brother has been in Maltatal, too on Sunday 31st of August
and was also very impressed!

[Lvandelft]

Travelling back home to Holland we took the opportunity to make
a visit to Thomas Huber, as it was not far from our way.
We started off in the morning at Salzburg with 30° C. and when we arrived at Neustadt in the
afternoon it was raining and not more than 12° C. What a shock..!
We were very impressed by the way, how Thomas keeps his enormous Crocus
Collection on such a limited place.
His new rockgarden was just finished, but he wants first to wait with planting until
the weeds which for sure are coming up are removed.
Here some pictures.

Colchicum collection           
Crocus meadow               
Weeding   

When we were at Thomas place, he got a phonecall from forumist Gerd.
So next morning we decided to make a short visit there too.
And Gerd had propagated a plant for me, which we could right take home then.
Gerd's wife surprised us with a delicious meal.
Gerd has many interesting plants in his garden, so we had a lot to see and talk about.
I left with more than the one plant that I came for.
My wife made some pictures there:

Gerd's garden 1             
Gerd's garden 2         
Sternbergia sicula Dodona Gold
Heavy nice pots               
Taking plant

[Maggi Young]

 I am so delighted to think of the forumists meeting up with each other and making these visits!

(I have made a note of the fact that Frau Knoche is a good cook, also!!    )

[Gerdk]

I am so delighted to think of the forumists meeting up with each other and making these visits!

(I have made a note of the fact that Frau Knoche is a good cook, also!!    )

Maggi, unfortunately she's the BEST cook - please have a look at my waistline!   

Gerd

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very nice of you to take us visiting both these prominent forumists Luit ! 
Thanks very much... but you could have given Thomas a hand weeding... 

[Lvandelft]

Thanks very much... but you could have given Thomas a hand weeding...